Xiaomi’s First Tablet Expected During April 23 Event

For all its success in the smartphone market, Xiaomi still hasn’t released a single tablet, but that may finally change next week after a press event where the company promises to launch “something unexpected” according to Gizchina.

The company announced the April 23 event earlier today via Chinese social network Weibo, teasing the long-rumored tablet with a photo showing the device from its side. The picture looks a lot like Lenovo’s Yoga tablet, mostly due to the large round bulge that runs along one edge, providing an easy place to grip, a way to prop up the tablet and some extra space to hold the battery. Of course, there’s no guarantee the device is a tablet, and we won’t know for sure until the official announcement next week. Gizchina suggests it could be a new router or even a new smartphone design, though that seems unlikely based on what we can see of the device.

It’s also worth noting that Xiaomi’s event is set for the same day as the much-hyped OnePlus One launch, suggesting the popular phone-maker sees the newer company as a potentially dangerous rival. No matter what happens, April 23 should be an exciting day for any gadget fans keeping an eye on the Chinese market.